A
anonymous1995
Guest
If a teenager does not look like a man of prayer and does not look like Christ, how could he possibly become a priest?
He is never confident of talking about Faith to his friends and family as he thinks he is bringing disgrace to Jesus. And consequently he never has the courage to put on the Roman cassock or clerical attire - not even clothes for seminarians. He is afraid of odd gazes from neighbours and friends (who are largely non-Catholics) were he to become a priest. He is always devoid of the courage and public speaking skills quintessential to preaching.
He looks smart, but in reality he has little talent in Physics and Maths though he scored well in SAT Subject Tests. He loves reading. He has subscribed to The Economist and reads the Wall Street Journal or New York Times when time allows (though he’s not doing anything related to Finance in college). He is interested in Latin and Greek, but the mere idea of a solid formation in the Classics, Philosophy and Theology scares him off - how could a person boast of ‘knowing’ these profound subjects in a decade? He is also very interested in English Literature and German (for reading Theology), but again how could he have sufficient time for that given the tight seminary curriculum?
He is short and not handsome. He is not very sociable or charismatic. He knows no sports. He looks like a baby more than a teenager at the age of 21. He simply is immature and doesn’t look like an adult. He has an ugly voice incompatible with that of a charming man.
He tends to be judgmental - in short, he is not a pious, virtuous living saint who radiates the glamour of Christ. He is too proud and reliant on his limited intellectual capacity. He might be jealous of virtuous priests for absurd reasons. He feels embarrassed by holy priests since he is not doing his job well enough.
He is lazy and absent-minded. He loves Youtube and Facebook. He loves listening to Bach’s organ music or watching Tridentine Mass videos more than Lady Gaga or pop music though. He loves History documentaries or Discovery channel videos.
Most importantly, he is really afraid of letting God lead him to an unknown future despite a faint kindling desire to know his future. A few weeks ago he still felt ‘dismayed’ with the idea that God might grant him Matrimony instead of Priesthood (though rationally he knew both were of no difference in the road towards sanctity: All Christians - in fact all people in general and all Catholics in particular - are called to love God; it is the pursuit of love of God but not the means that really matters. In fact Priesthood to him means an even more drastic change of life.) - were him to have the liberty to choose among Vocations he would opt for Priesthood (although he didn’t know how this idea came about). BUT then this desire has transformed into some sort of fear.
He is not really open to God now.
He begins to question.
‘Aren’t priests Elmer Gantry - hypocrites who make a living by speaking nonsense garbage? Aren’t priests the real ‘losers’ in the society, who have no professional skills to serve and depend solely on merciful donations of the easily beguiled faithful?’
How could such a complicated boy of little humility and holiness become a priest?
He is never confident of talking about Faith to his friends and family as he thinks he is bringing disgrace to Jesus. And consequently he never has the courage to put on the Roman cassock or clerical attire - not even clothes for seminarians. He is afraid of odd gazes from neighbours and friends (who are largely non-Catholics) were he to become a priest. He is always devoid of the courage and public speaking skills quintessential to preaching.
He looks smart, but in reality he has little talent in Physics and Maths though he scored well in SAT Subject Tests. He loves reading. He has subscribed to The Economist and reads the Wall Street Journal or New York Times when time allows (though he’s not doing anything related to Finance in college). He is interested in Latin and Greek, but the mere idea of a solid formation in the Classics, Philosophy and Theology scares him off - how could a person boast of ‘knowing’ these profound subjects in a decade? He is also very interested in English Literature and German (for reading Theology), but again how could he have sufficient time for that given the tight seminary curriculum?
He is short and not handsome. He is not very sociable or charismatic. He knows no sports. He looks like a baby more than a teenager at the age of 21. He simply is immature and doesn’t look like an adult. He has an ugly voice incompatible with that of a charming man.
He tends to be judgmental - in short, he is not a pious, virtuous living saint who radiates the glamour of Christ. He is too proud and reliant on his limited intellectual capacity. He might be jealous of virtuous priests for absurd reasons. He feels embarrassed by holy priests since he is not doing his job well enough.
He is lazy and absent-minded. He loves Youtube and Facebook. He loves listening to Bach’s organ music or watching Tridentine Mass videos more than Lady Gaga or pop music though. He loves History documentaries or Discovery channel videos.
Most importantly, he is really afraid of letting God lead him to an unknown future despite a faint kindling desire to know his future. A few weeks ago he still felt ‘dismayed’ with the idea that God might grant him Matrimony instead of Priesthood (though rationally he knew both were of no difference in the road towards sanctity: All Christians - in fact all people in general and all Catholics in particular - are called to love God; it is the pursuit of love of God but not the means that really matters. In fact Priesthood to him means an even more drastic change of life.) - were him to have the liberty to choose among Vocations he would opt for Priesthood (although he didn’t know how this idea came about). BUT then this desire has transformed into some sort of fear.
He is not really open to God now.
He begins to question.
‘Aren’t priests Elmer Gantry - hypocrites who make a living by speaking nonsense garbage? Aren’t priests the real ‘losers’ in the society, who have no professional skills to serve and depend solely on merciful donations of the easily beguiled faithful?’
How could such a complicated boy of little humility and holiness become a priest?
, and the ancient Mass is beautiful, but I hate it when I see sedevacantist/SSPX material in the recommended list of videos.
Goes to show that priests aren’t talent show actors